Shreveport to hail Elvis, King of Rock and Roll, with 50th anniversary
celebration.
The worn stage
floor of the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana is
the same floor a young Elvis Presley performed on nearly 50 years
ago. The 19-year-old had waited through a long list of performers
to appear that night on a nationally broadcast radio show - the
Louisiana Hayride, in front of a live audience. The event, on
October 16, 1954, would be Elvis’ first career performance;
the start of something so big, so powerful, so dramatic that it
would change the world's idea of music and entertainment.
The Friends
of the Municipal Auditorium have organized a concert bash and
other events to celebrate that great moment in music history.
October 16, 2004, Elvis' friends - the TCB Band, including Shreveport’s
son and internationally acclaimed guitarist, James Burton will
join original Hayride drummer DJ Fontana, the Jordanaires, and
Terry Mike Jeffrey for a night of Elvis memories. The concert
starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium located at 705
Elvis Presley Boulevard, Shreveport, Louisiana.
Proceeds from
the concert will go to help the Friends of the Municipal breathe
life back into the historic building with projects that include
museum exhibits, guided tours, restoration, and educational opportunities.
Tickets go on sale, July 12. Prices are $25, $35, and $45. Groups
of 15 or more can purchase ticket for $20.
The Hayride,
or “Cradle to the Stars” as it was affectionately
called, was the catalyst for not just Elvis’ career. The
weekly radio program on Shreveport’s KWKH hit the air, April
3, 1948. In its first ten years, the Hayride launched the stardoms
of Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Faron Young, Slim Whitman, Johnny
Horton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Bob Luman, and
the list goes on and on.
Some of that
history is on display at the Stage of Stars Museum, which opened
this summer. The museum has regular Saturday hours of 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. However, groups can schedule tours anytime by calling
the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau at 318-222-9391
or 800-551-8682 ext. 105.
For more information
about the concert, visit the Friends of the Municipal website
at www.stageofstars.com or call the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
(318) 227-8863, where tickets can be purchased. Darwin Lamm, is
the concert producer. He’s known for putting Elvis musicians
and friends together to perform and meet the fans since 1989 with
Good Rockin' Tonite concerts during Elvis Tribute Week in Memphis.
Photos of
the Hayride, Stage of Stars Museum, and performers on the Louisiana
Hayride are available, as well as bios and photos of upcoming
concert performers. To obtain this information, please feel free
to contact Brandy Evans, public relations manager, at the Shreveport-Bossier
Convention and Tourist Bureau by email pr@sbctb.org
or by phone at 800-551-8682.
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